Who Cares About Him When I'm Married to the Richest Man?-Chapter 81: Withholding Commission

She pushed open the door and went in, discovering that besides the Director, there were two unfamiliar faces inside.

Elara greeted the Director, then nodded at the two unfamiliar faces.

The Director said, "Elara is here, have a seat."

Elara pulled out a chair across from him and sat down, proactively asking, "Director, is there something you need from me?"

The Director looked at her, fingers interlocked, seemingly in a difficult position, "Elara, I actually have high hopes for you. Besides your recent surge in orders, I’ve also seen your efforts in the past. To be honest, even without this recent surge of orders, it was just a matter of time before you replaced Supervisor Ford."

Elara had a bad feeling in her heart. If the Director wanted to praise her, he wouldn’t start with this kind of preamble.

Sure enough, the Director’s "However" soon followed, "However, the company still needs to show some compassion towards other colleagues. Many colleagues in the department are dissatisfied with you, and Jade Fisher in particular just... If we were to give you a high performance bonus at this time, I’m afraid it would cause public outrage."

Elara asked, "What is the amount then?"

The Director smiled, picked up his teacup, blew on the tea leaves, and slowly took a sip, "Given your order surge this week, several of the higher-ups discussed and decided to award you a one-time bonus of 100,000 yuan, while your base salary remains the same."

The base salary remains unchanged, which means her salary for this month is still 4,000 yuan.

This week she signed off on nearly half a year’s worth of the entire business department’s orders. According to company regulations, she should have gotten around seven to eight million in commissions, but now there’s only a 100,000-yuan bonus.

The performance commission was gone.

No matter how she thought about it, Elara never expected this result.

Although those orders were unordinary, they were indeed signed by her and genuinely created benefits for the company.

Initially, Elara thought that when the Director mentioned considering the situation, at most they would cut her pay by half. She even felt satisfied with just taking one-tenth of the commission.

But she never expected the company’s final decision was not to give her any commission at all.

As she remained silent, the middle-aged woman next to her pushed up her glasses, expressionless, and said, "Miss Hale, after our internal discussion, we collectively believe that the origins of your orders during this time are unknown, and withholding the performance commission is for your own good. We hope you won’t have any negative feelings."

Elara was puzzled, "Taking away what’s rightfully mine, how is that for my own good?"

The middle-aged woman’s face darkened slightly, somewhat displeased, "These orders appeared inexplicably. We have reasonable suspicion that you used connections to forge orders and defraud company assets. According to procedure, we should have reported it to the police, but Director Lawson has given consideration to your previous diligence, so we won’t pursue this with you. You’d best watch your step."

Elara had only intended to argue reasonably but was somewhat irritated by this, "I used connections to forge orders? Didn’t those orders come with advance payments? The company requires a 30% deposit, but all my clients paid a 70% deposit upfront. Even if the orders were canceled last minute, that 70% deposit still went into the company’s account. What’s the purpose of forging such orders?"

She became a bit agitated because she never thought such a large company would spout nonsense without any investigation.

After taking a deep breath, she continued, "I neither have massive assets nor such powerful connections. Even if I did, why would I spend billions just to get that 1% commission?"

The middle-aged woman didn’t expect Elara to question them so directly.

Her name was Ivy Jenkins. As the company’s Chief Financial Officer, she and the General Manager’s secretary, Chris Chase, realized that there was a lot of room for manipulation when informed by Director Lawson.

Having learned that Elara was mild-mannered and never clashed with colleagues, she developed a bold idea.

Hold back this eight million.

A new employee, soft-natured and mild, was easy to handle. Such things were common in the workplace.

Ivy Jenkins had initially thought this matter would be effortlessly handled. After all, how could a junior employee deserve such a large commission?

Even by distribution principles, as her supervising superior, she ought to take the majority.

Seeing Ivy Jenkins remain silent, the General Manager’s secretary, Chris Chase, coughed and said to Elara, "Miss Hale, I hope you understand, we’re informing you, not seeking your opinion. If you can’t accept it, then we regretfully note that the company will lose an excellent employee like you."

Elara felt a surge of disgust in her heart, thinking that these words were becoming more and more shameless.

Isn’t this a blatant threat? Either take the 100,000-yuan bonus, surrender the commission, and everyone stays amicable, or pack up and leave?

The people talking to her were from the company higher-ups. Besides Director Lawson, she didn’t recognize the man and woman, but speculated they were higher executives.

Being higher-ups rather than the General Manager implied that the General Manager wasn’t aware of this matter.

So... were they colluding to split this sum?

Elara took a deep breath, looking at Director Lawson said, "Director, I want to see the General Manager."

Chris Chase’s face immediately darkened upon hearing this, "Miss Hale, don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Who do you think you are to see the General Manager at your whim?"

Elara discreetly reached into her pocket, turning on the recording function, but Ivy Jenkins noticed and with a cold face, forcefully grabbed Elara’s arm and took her phone away!

Elara looked at her, "Give me back my phone!"

Seeing the recording interface on the screen, Ivy Jenkins understood what Elara intended, let out a cold laugh, walked straight to the window, and threw Elara’s phone out!

Elara’s pupils constricted; this was the sixteenth floor!

"Trying to record, are you thinking of taking legal action?" Ivy Jenkins crossed her arms in front of Elara, mockingly saying, "Let me remind you, all company salespeople sign orders under a supervisor’s name. Are you going to take the orders signed by Vera Ford and tell the judge they belong to you? Who do you think will believe you?"

Elara felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

Indeed, the company had this regulation, originally designed to restrict frequent resignations by new employees. Since the company’s inception, it had always been this way.

All the orders she signed carried Vera Ford’s name.

As long as everything was peaceful, they could be flexible. But now, trying to claim her rights had become exceedingly difficult.

Director Lawson looked at the silent Elara with a tinge of unease.

Initially, he genuinely wanted to advocate for her. Even though he envied such a large sum, he never considered usurping his subordinate’s interests.

However, unexpectedly, when he took Elara’s payslip to the Chief Financial Officer, Director Jenkins developed other ideas.

He was involuntarily pulled into this conspiracy, always feeling uneasy, but at this moment seeing Elara troubled, he was helpless.

Moreover, considering such a significant sum that initially had nothing to do with him, but now he had a chance to get a slice, at least getting two million, he no longer wanted to oppose money.

At this moment, Elara faced three ambitious, heartless leaders alone, overwhelmed with a sense of absurdity.

She pursed her lips, looked at the three of them, and said softly, "No matter what, I will do my best to fight for my interests."

After speaking, she turned around and walked out of the meeting room.

She used to regard them as leaders, respecting them, but now, they no longer deserved her respect.

Elara returned to the office and went straight to find Vera Ford, "Supervisor Ford, could I have a word with you?"

Vera Ford looked up from a pile of documents and smiled, "Sure."

Elara took her to the rooftop where there were fewer people.

She recounted everything said in the meeting room and asked Vera, "Supervisor Ford, I want to know, if I take them to court, would you testify for me that those orders were signed by me?"

The smile on Vera Ford’s face gradually faded away, and after a while, she said, "Elara, if you win this lawsuit, will they be fired?"

Elara shook her head, "I don’t know."

Vera Ford gave a bitter smile, "No, they won’t be. I can already guess who the two people you’re talking about are. One is the financial director Ivy Jenkins, and the other is the general manager’s reliable secretary. They both have status and background. Even if you win the lawsuit, their positions in the company won’t be shaken in the slightest."

Elara said, "At worst, I’ll leave by then. I just want justice."

Vera Ford fell silent.

It was only then that Elara realized, yes, if she won the lawsuit, she could leave, but what about Vera Ford?

She was originally set to be transferred to headquarters by the end of the year, with a promising future.

But if she stepped up to testify for her, Vera Ford would probably disappear from then on.

They were just colleagues, not to mention she had only been in Vera Ford’s group for a little over half a month. What right did she have to ask someone to give up their future for her?

"I’ve been too naive," Elara sighed, "Forget it, Supervisor Ford, just pretend I never asked."

Vera Ford struggled for a moment, finally gritting her teeth and said, "Elara, let me think about it."

Elara initially wanted to refuse but heard Vera Ford say, "Actually, I’m just like you, from an ordinary family, relying on myself step by step to get to where I am today. I can’t stand their ways, but all along, I haven’t had the ability to change things, nor did I dare to resist.

But today, you stood before me and said you wanted to seek justice for yourself, and I suddenly felt that there should be some fairness in this world. Elara, making this decision is really hard, but I’ll seriously consider it. Could you give me three days?"

Elara didn’t know what else to say, so she could only nod silently.

Almost at the end of the workday, Jade Fisher returned from the hospital. Her hand was wrapped in gauze, but her face looked rosy. Under the gaze of her office colleagues, she walked straight to Elara’s desk.

Suddenly, she started crying, "Elara, I already agreed to give you all the clients in my hands, so why do you still refuse to let me go? How did I offend you to make you want to completely ruin me?"

Elara was puzzled, "What are you talking about? When did I ever ask for your clients?"

Jade Fisher cried as if she were truly pitiful, "You won’t admit it now? Last night after work, you said that if I didn’t hand over all my clients to you, you’d make it so I couldn’t stay in the company. You’re taking advantage of your recent surge in orders to do whatever you please, but unfortunately, I couldn’t record your ugly face to let everyone see!"

Even someone as slow as Elara understood now; Jade Fisher was deliberately framing her.

She looked at Jade Fisher and said, word by word, "I never said such things."

At this moment, a colleague spoke up, "If you never said those things, why would Jade Fisher cut her wrist at your desk, and why is she accusing you now? She can’t possibly be framing you by risking her own safety because she dislikes you, right?"

Elara wanted to say she did, but she knew she couldn’t provide any evidence. Jade Fisher had taken the moral high ground by cutting her wrist, which left Elara helpless against this move.

Just then, the sound of high heels clacking on the floor was heard, and a colleague exclaimed, "Director Jenkins is here."

Elara looked up and saw the middle-aged woman she had met before in the meeting room.

Vera Ford had indeed guessed correctly; she was the company’s financial director.

A dignified financial director, yet breaking the law while knowing it, trying to embezzle the employee’s performance, so disillusioning.

Elara knew that Director Jenkins’s appearance was definitely not of goodwill, so she prepared herself mentally.

However, when Director Jenkins spoke, Elara realized she had underestimated her limits.

Because Director Jenkins walked up to her and the first thing she said was, "Where there’s smoke, there’s fire; flies don’t attack seamless eggs. Elara, how much guilt have you piled up to attract so much trouble?"

Elara looked at her and gave a mocking smile.

"Director Jenkins, what have I done? I haven’t done any of the things Jade Fisher said. Each and every one of you keeps saying I did, but what evidence do you have? Just because she cut her wrist and I didn’t, you’re saying I’m lying and she’s not?"

As she spoke, she picked up the craft knife on the table and placed it on her own wrist, asking, "Do you need me to cut my wrist too so I can stand at the same level as Jade Fisher to defend myself?"

Vera Ford stepped up nervously, grabbing her hand, "Elara, don’t act rashly!"

Elara wasn’t acting rashly at all; she was very calm. She took the knife only to frighten them; she wouldn’t actually cut her wrist.

She looked at Jade Fisher, then at Director Jenkins, and those colleagues who had just spoken for Jade Fisher, and said in a firm but soft voice, "If you say I’ve done something wrong, then show me the evidence. Without evidence, I won’t admit to anything."

After finishing, she pushed Jade Fisher aside, picked up her bag, and headed out.

Fully aware that she probably couldn’t stay at this company anymore.

The issue with her deducted performance bonus was already troublesome enough, and now there was the unfounded targeting from Jade Fisher.

Elara returned home dejectedly, locked her bedroom door, and lay on the bed, feeling a bit sad.

She thought she had found a good job, and life could gradually get better, but she didn’t expect to encounter such disgusting things.

She calculated in her mind that no matter what, she had to see the general manager. She must fight for her commission.

As for Jade Fisher, she had no means to deal with her.

Was she supposed to sue her for defamation? But without concrete evidence, nothing could be clarified.

She felt horrible, lying there until the room grew dark, and the sound of the door opening came from outside; Zion Fitzwilliam had returned.